This comes after principal secretary in the ministry of education, Chikondano Mussa, warned some schools against charging learners various user fees such as, registration fee, examination fee, summer school fee, report card fees and mock examination fee, among others.

"This is unacceptable as it pushes children out of school and the Ministry will not condone that malpractice. This defeats the purpose and spirit of Free Primary Education Policy introduced in 1994 meant to increase equitable access to education. No learner should be sent back or denied opportunity to sit for any examination administered in schools," reads the statement in part.

However, CSEC Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe feels government is late and should go beyond issuing statements and take deterrent action on the matter which has disadvantaged vulnerable learners for a long time.

"It’s a good development, though late. CSEC has been in several occasions raising this issue of hidden cost which has become an impediment on most vulnerable learners. So, government should regulate this and move beyond merely warning or issuing statements". Kondowe said.

Mussa has further spoken tough against the tendency of teachers who are lazy in completing syllabus so that they cover it during summer classes.

"These teachers do not cover entire syllabus in order to justify implementation of summer lessons during holidays where they charge fees," it adds.